The limits

Body type, fatigue, general condition, sex, situation..

When we drink, we often set ourselves the limit of not losing control of our behavior. It's true that this attitude already helps to avoid a whole series of short-term risks linked to the state ofdrunkenness, but we have to admit that self-assessment in this area is not always easy.

Moreover, the harmful consequences of alcohol are not limited to the various risks linked to the state of drunkenness! Health, too, is extremely at risk, and in a much more insidious way, as the effects will often be felt over the longer term. The WHO has defined limits, but beware: they cannot be considered as a "credit" that can be carried over to the following days if not used, as they correspond in fact to the average capacity of the liver to destroy alcohol. So, as soon as they are exceeded, the liver is overloaded... Moreover, this general "norm" needs to be qualified according to the individual and the circumstances in which they find themselves. Indeed, sensitivity to alcohol and the speed with which its concentration increases in the blood can be influenced by many factors, some relatively fixed, others more variable.

Fixed" factors influencing personal sensitivity to alcohol:   weight: people of low weight and short stature are generally more sensitive to alcohol; gender: because of their generally lower stature and weight, but also because of differences in fat tissue composition, women metabolize alcohol less well than men; age: young people and the elderly tolerate alcohol less well, and are more exposed to its dangers. In young people, alcohol can also slow growth, and the risk of developing dependence is greater; certain chronic or genetic illnesses (asthma, allergies, epilepsy) or permanent health problems: a weakened body reacts all the more strongly to alcohol; genetic code: the ability of enzymes to eliminate alcohol is genetically determined and can vary from one individual or race to another.

Variable factors that speed up the passage of alcohol into the bloodstream:

• individual factors: illness (even occasional illnesses such as colds...), fatigue...;
• certain medications ;
• an empty stomach;
• speed of consumption ;
• the alcohol-sugar mix;
• alcoholic beverages containing carbon dioxide (white/coke, sparkling wine, etc.);
• hot alcohol (mulled wine, Irish coffee, etc.).